A federal marshal shot and killed a defendant standing trial in a Utah courtroom, after the alleged gang member attacked a witness who was testifying against him, USA Today reported. Siale Angilau, 25, was shot in the chest in the federal courthouse in Salt Lake City after charging the witness in an "aggressive, threatening manner," the FBI was quoted as saying.

Angilau, a Pacific Islander and member of the Tongan Crip gang, was on trial on racketeering charges when he tried to attack the witness with a pen, the newspaper reported. The witness was a prisoner testifying how the gang operated.

A U.S. marshal in the courtroom fired eight shots at Angilau, striking him in the chest. U.S. District Judge Tena Campbell, who was presiding over the case, declared a mistrial.

Angilau was standing trial on charges of robbery and assault. He also was accused of shooting two U.S. marshals in 2007, USA Today reported. He had been in a Utah state prison.